Fabergé is delighted to unveil the Majesty Clutch Bag, a one-of-a-kind masterpiece, which will be available to view via private or virtual appointment from 18th October 2021. This is the first wearable objet of its kind created by the Maison since 1917, and celebrates the glamour and splendour of Fabergé’s rich heritage in a contemporary design.
This exceptional piece has been created from carved rock crystal, carved natural turquoise and teal blue signature guilloché enamel and is set with 18k yellow, white and rose gold and adorned with a multitude of gemstones, including diamonds, pearls, yellow and pink sapphires, tsavorites and Gemfields Mozambican rubies and Zambian emeralds. The unique combination of materials plays with both colour and transparency to create an alluring accessory that pushes the boundaries of design.
The Majesty Clutch is a modern take on Fabergé’s trademark approach of taking unconventional and delicate materials and lifting them to new heights. The scalloped edges add a softness to the transparent rock crystal, which also features fine scroll-like engraving and is punctuated with colourful gemstones. The vibrant carved turquoise in the centre adds another texture, framed by striking teal guilloché enamel and pavé white diamonds. Decorative motifs, which radiate out from the centre, are set with tsavorites and white diamonds to add an intricate detail against the simplicity of the rock crystal.
A cut-out gold egg serves as the clasp, which opens the clutch – a subtle nod to Fabergé’s famed Imperial Easter Eggs.
Fabergé is renowned for its ability to include surprises and unexpected details within creations, which often only the wearer knows about. The Majesty Clutch is a playfully transformable design that can transition from day to night with ease via the detachable wrist strap, which can be worn alone as a bangle (see left), and the pearl, ruby and emerald tassel, which can be removed from the bag and worn as a pendant.
This clutch bag takes its inspiration from the Fabergé archives, as well as from the ‘Crystal Palace’, which housed The Great Exhibition of 1851. Designed by the architect Sir Joseph Paxton, it was a remarkable construction formed from a network of iron rods sustaining walls of clear glass.
From the Fabergé archives, particular attention was paid to historical Fabergé evening bags and intricately decorated fans. Peter Carl Fabergé created a number of gold or silver-gilt mesh bags with solid frames from 1908-1917. An example below is a three-colour gold evening bag where the frame is enamelled in translucent grey over an undulating engine-turned ground and the chased gold, laurel swags are set to each side with rose-cut diamonds and opaque white enamel reserves. Working with different colours of gold was something that Peter Carl Fabergé pioneered, and the combination of yellow, white and rose gold in this new piece continues this legacy.
Fans were an indispensable part of fashion during the late 1880s and early 1900s, with beautifully embellished creations an essential part of court costume and manufactured on a regular basis by Fabergé. These fans were frequently commissioned by the Russian Imperial family for weddings and as gifts to fellow female royal relations. What makes Fabergé’s fans distinctive is their use of enamel and jewels on the guard sticks. Two Fabergé fans have survived in the Forbes Magazine Collection – one is an ostrich feather fan made by Henrik Wigstrom. It has a rock crystal handle, surmounted, and capped by a salmon pink enamel circle intricately set with diamonds; out of this sprouts white ostrich feathers. The handle terminates with a salmon pink enamel cap and attached to this are two long silk tassels, which have inspired the detachable tassel on the Majesty Clutch.
The Fabergé featuring Gemfields Majesty Clutch Bag can be purchased from 18th October 2021 for £303,100/$400,000. For more information, please contact sales@faberge.com.
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